Jodys Money Pop takes the Bayer Legend Texas Derby Challenge – Coady Photography
7/12/2009.…Made it over to Houston just in time for the Post Parade for the $57,060 John Deere Juvenile Texas Challenge at Sam Houston Race Park yesterday.. Post time for the first race was set at 1:00 pm and even though it was near 100 degrees out there, I like the idea of running the races in early afternoon.. With all the good music playing, barbeque teams with their canopy’s set up and pits smoking and a washer pitchin contest going on, kinda gave it a county fair atmosphere…Top that off with some great horse racing and I’d have to say SHRP is definitely on to something, hope it catches on…
..The saddling paddock was the place to be while the horses and jockeys were getting geared up, quite a sight to take in, powerful quarter horses blanketed in bright colors prancing alongside the crowd as they made their way to the track…Hard not to get excited with anticipation of ‘em loadin up in the starting gates…And there was no disapointment when they did, just a bunch of fast horses running like they meant it……Red Heels, a 2 yr old filly by Hawkish had to come from the middle of the pack to get a neck in front of West Texas Energy to claim her victory in John Deere Juvenile, her winning time of 17.75 earned her a 96 speed index for 350 yards…Next up was the $24,795 Red Cell Texas Distance Challenge , an 870 yard race for horses 3 yr old and up.. Taking the lead in the stretch , Blue Ribbon Dash an 8 yr old gelding by First Place Dash, came away with the win…another 8 yr old, Showum You Whirl won the Fort Dodge Texas Starter Allowance Challenge…Trainer Sleepy Gilbreath had Jodys Money Pop looking good and ready to run as he took the $58,410 Bayer Legend Texas Derby Challenge at 400 yards with a blistering 102 speed index in the Texas heat…The Merial Texas Distaff Challenge followed, a (G3) event for Fillies and Mares 3yr old and up.. This was another close race but JA Impetuously, a 4 yr old mare by Mr Jess Perry held off a late charge from the outside by Panther Purr for the win…and finally the race a lot of us were looking forward to, the (G1) $107,550 Bank of America Texas Challenge Championship…There was a lot of class in this race and it went down to the wire with the top 3 within a neck at the finish, but Easy Dashin Sixes a 4 year old gelding by Streakin Sixes got a nose in front of Jess Got Bayou and Royce Rogers at the wire for the win. Early favorite, Sassys Tuffy got off to a rough start then tried to jump the inside rail at mid stretch, losing her rider..Both looked like they came out of it OK…Hats off to Sam Houston Race Park for a great day at the races……
Stretch/440post
